File



March 7, 1939. H, scm@ 2,149,553

FILE

Filed July 22, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 March 7,1939. H SCH'W, 2,149,553

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3 Sheets-Sheet 'I 2 Filed July 22, 1957 H0225 562mm?,

March 7, 1939 H. scHMlD FILE Filed July 22, 1937 fab V56) i 3 Sheets-Sheet FILES..& BINDERS Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES Search Hoon PATsNT OFFICE FILE Hans Schmid, Saarbruecken, Germany, assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application July 22, 1937, Serial No. 155,052 l* In Germany November 13, 1936l 15 Claims.

This invention relates to le cabinets or trays, and more particularly the type of cabinet or tray having end walls adapted to tilt outwardly into inclined position to support the cards, panels or the like in an inclined position to facilitate inspection. The invention comprehends the provision of a card index tray having hinged or tilting end walls and pivoted covers adapted to close and conceal the contents of the tray in one position and to move into an open position and support the end walls in inclined position. The covers are further adapted to be limited in their movement by suitable means carried by the tray and are formed to cooperate with the end walls for retaining the end walls in upright position when the covers are in closed position to thereby form a closed ille construction for protecting the contents of the tray and preventing access thereto. The covers further are provided to operate the end walls so that in the movement of the covers the end walls may be moved from upright to inclined position.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the card index tray in perspective, with one cover in open position and the corresponding end wall in inclined position, other portions of the tray being broken away and shown in section for convenience in illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross section through the tray.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The le forming the present invention has a tray I provided with a bottom 2 and side walls 3. End walls 4 are hinged at their lower edges at the ends oi' bottom 2 of the tray and covers 5 are pivoted on pivot pins 6 on the side walls of the tray for movement between open and closed positions as illustrated in Fig. 1 to either cover the contents of the tray or to open the tray for access thereto. During opening movement of covers 5, end walls 4 are moved from the upright to inclined position, as illustrated.

Tray I is made of sheet metal, side walls 3 being formed of outer wall sections 1 having inwardly directed lateral anges 8 on the lower edges and inwardly directed flanges 9 on the upper edges. Inner wall sections I0 spaced from outer wall sections 1, are formed with an oiset portion interfltting with a down-turned edge on ange 9 as indicated at II in Fig. l, to secure the inner and outer sections in spaced relation. The lower edges (Cl. 12S-43) assisting in retaining the upper edges of the side 10"" wall sections in assembled relation and providing a smooth upper edge on the side walls 3 oi' the tray for producing a neat appearing construction.

Sheet metal strips I4 having onset sections I5 to provide ledges are secured on the outer faces of side wall sections 1 o1' side walls 3, and spaced a suitable distance below the upper edges of side walls 3 to provide a. seat or rest on which the edges of covers 5 engage, as shown in Fig. 1, when they are in the closed position. These ledges extend horizontally along the side walls of the tray below pivot pins 8 for most of the distance between pivot pins 6.

Tray bottom 2 is also formed of sheet metal having a central channel portion I8 extending longitudinally thereof and having oil'set side margins I1 suitably welded to lateral anges 8 of outer side sections 1. Angle members I 8 are arranged at the ends of the tray having one flange of each angle member engaged under bottom 2 and interiltting with the ends of side wall sections 1, so that the whole structure may be welded together. The other flanges oi' members I8 extend upwardly and are formed to provide cylindrical hinge portions I9 forming the stationary hinge for the pin structure for hingedly mounting end walls 4. These angle members I8 form the end structure of the tray at the ends of the bottom. The ends of outer side wall sections 1 are formed with return bend portions 20 having the inner edges slightly spaced from the free ends of inner side wall sections I 0 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 for a purpose that will be presently described.

In the channels formed at the outer edges of bottom 2 by offset sections I1 are positioned U- shaped spacer members 2| having the inner free edge of each member serrated or provided with a series of cut-out portions 22 so arranged that the cut-out portions 22 in U-shaped members 2| at opposite sides of the tray are in transversely aligned relation and of a size to receive the lower end of card index panels 23 as shown in Fig. 2 so as to space these panels apart. This spacing of the panels in the tray is provided for compensating for the build-up of the cards on the 55 panels in their overlapping visible relation. Positioning strips 24 of angular form in cross section as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, are mounted in U-shaped-positioning members 2| at the outer edges thereof, as illustrated, in order to guide index panels 23 into cut-out portions 22 of spacer members 2| with the side edges of index panels 23 equally spaced between side walls 3 of the tray. These positioning members 24 hold panels 23 against endwise movement in the tray so that index panels 23 may be rocked back and forth in the tray into tilted positions as illustrated in the drawings, for reference to the cards carried thereby, and during this manipulation and rocking movement of panels 23 positioning members 24 will prevent the side edges from scraping on the inner face of inner side wall sections I0 of side walls 3 and provide for the easy manipulation of the card index panels.

A divider supporting channel member 25 is mounted in channel portion I6 of bottom 2 and retained therein by means of tongues I6 formed from striking out portions of bottom 2 at the ends of channel |6 and turning the tongues over the ends of channel 25. A plurality of sheet metal plates 26 forming divider plates in the tray are provided with extensions 21 on the lower ends formed into cylindrical portions 28 that engage in channel 25, and support divider plates 26 in the tray, as illustrated. 'I'he upper ends of divider plates 26 at the side edges are provided with projecting portions 29 that extend over the side walls 3 of the tray as indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 for engaging the upper edges of the side walls and thereby limiting the hinging movement of dividers 26 so they may occupy tilted positions at either side of the vertical plane of the pivot mounting therefor.

End walls 4 are formed of inner and outer sheet metal sections 30 and 3| respectively, secured in spaced parallel relation. Inner end wall sections 30 are provided with laterally extending end flanges 32 along the side edges, whilethe side edges of outer end wall sections 3| are formed with return bend portions 33. Guide strips 34 are secured to laterally extending anges 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 and project laterally and inwardly from the side edges of each end wall to slidably engage between return bend 20 on outer side wall section and the inner face of inner side wall section This serves to prevent cards on index panels 23 or the panels themselves from projecting laterally outward past the ends of side walls 3 of the tray when end walls 4 are in the outwardly inclined position as illustrated in Fig. 1, and as a result, prevents cards or papers on panels 23 from interfering `with the operation of the endwalls.

Inner end wall sections 30 at the lower ends are each provided with an oifset portion spaced upwardly from the lower end of outer end wall section 3| as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the offset section, as illustrated at 35 being suitably secured by welding or the like to outer end wall section 3|. Each outer end wall section 3| is formed with an offset return bend portion 36 at the upper end embracing and suitably secured by spot welding or the like to the upper edge of inner end wall section 30. At the lower end, outer end wall sections 3| are formed with spaced cylindrical portions 31 engaging between cylindrical portions I9 to receive the pivot pin providing the hinge oonnection for end walls 4 for securing end walls 4 to the ends of the tray through the medium of angle members I8. Pins 38 are mounted bein Fig. l, securing pins 38 rigidly in position on Y the inner faces of inner end wall sections 30 so that the ends will project laterally and outwardly from the side edges of the end walls to cooperate with parts on covers 5 for operating end walls 4 in a manner that will be hereinafter described. Pivot pins 6 are rigidly secured to side wall sections of side walls 3, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and project outwardly so that covers 5 are supported on the ends projecting outwardly beyond side walls 3.

In the present disclosure of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, two covers 5 are illustrated, one being mounted on each end of the tray for pivotal movement. Each cover is formed in exactly the same manner except that they are oppositely formed with respect to one another. Each cover is formed of sheet metal having a central or top cover section 40 formed with lateral extensions at the side edges to which are secured, by welding or the like, side plate sections 4| to provide a cover structure that isl inverted U-shaped in cross section.

The free side edges of side sections 4| of each cover are formed with return bend portions, while the inner ends of top sections 40 of the covers that engage in the closed position, are also formed with return bend portions indicated at 42. The outer ends of top sections 40 of the covers are formed with laterally extending end wall sections 43 having return bend portions 44 on the inner edges. The length of end wall sections 43 are proportioned so that when covers 5 are in the closed position as illustrated in Fig. 2, return bend portions 44 will engage the offset return bend portions 36 on the upper ends of outer end wall sections 3| and move the end walls into upright position retaining them in this position in cooperation with cover 5 to completely house and conceal the contents of the tray against access from the exterior.

Cam members 55 in the form of elongated sheet metal channels are mounted on the inner faces of side sections 4| of each cover and extend between the opposite edges thereof, the channel being curved as shown in Fig. 2 adjacent one end in concentric relation to pivot pins 6. These cam members are spot welded or otherwise suitably secured toV side sections 4| of covers 5 and at the ends opposite those having the curved portions, cam members 55 are provided with stops 56. These vcam members receive the projecting ends of pins 38, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, which travel in the channels during the movement of covers 5 from open to closed positions, as illustrated in the drawings.

As a cover is moved from closed position covering the tray to open position, it will be noted that it swings around pivot pins 6 so that top section 40 will extend outwardly beyond the end of the tray and rotate outwardly beyond end walls 4 into a position as shown in Figs. l and 2. This position is obtained by reason of pins 38 travelling in cam members 55. In operation of a cover from the closed to the open position by manually moving the cover, cam members 55 actuate pin 38 during movement of the cover, to positively move end wall 4 from upright position to inclined position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and when' the inclined position illustrated is obtained, pins 38 will engage stops 56 and the movement will be limited so that covers 5 will support end walls 4 in open inclined position. This allows for the card index panels 23 to be moved to an inclined position as illustrated in Fig. 2, so they may be shifted back and forth into tilted positions at opposite sides of the vertical plane in order that reference may be made to the cards on any panel.

The left-hand cover illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 has return bend portion 42 thereof, provided with a pair of spaced pins 51 adjacent opposite sides that are adapted to engage in openings 58 formed in the return bend portion 42 of the opposite cover. This serves to guide the two covers into registry so they move into closed position with the lower edges of side sections 4| seated on the upper edges of ledges l5 and to secure the alignment of top sections 40 of both covers in coplanar relation in the closed position. The cover provided with pins 51 is also provided with a keeper 59 in the central portion of return bend portion 42 thereof while the opposite cover mounts a suitable key operated lock mechanism 60 having a lug that engages keeper 59 to lock the covers in closed position.

Covers 5 swing easily into either open or closed position and in the closed position move end walls 4 from the inclined to the vertical or upright position with return bend portion 44 engaging return bend portion 36 and providing for the effective support of end walls 4 in closed position to eifectively cover the contents of the tray. Cam member 55 and pins 38 provide an effective operating means for securing movement of end walls 4 with movement oi' covers 5. so that as the covers are moved from the closed to open position, end walls 4 are moved from upright to inclined position, and vice versa.

Covers 5 not only cover the tray in one position, but in the opposite or open position, they extend beyond the ends of the tray to support the end walls. Through the medium of return bend portions 44, the covers also support the end walls in the closed or upright position, beside having the operating means for securing movement of end walls 4 with covers 5. This provides a highly novel arrangement of cover and end wall structure and operating mechanism to facilitate the convenient manipulation of end walls 4 as well as card index panels 23 so that they may be readily manipulated for either reference to the records they contain or for movement into upright position in which they are housed when the covers are closed.

The covers prevent dirt, dust and other foreign matter from collecting in the cards and also prevent unauthorized access to the records contained In the tray when the lock is in its locking position. Ledges l5 on the side walls 3 of the tray support the lower edges of side sections 4| of covers 5 and prevent the covers from moving downwardly about their pivots 6 past the closed position so as to prevent an uneven relation between the covers when they are moved to the closed position. This aids in preventing undue strain being placed on the covers and end wall structure that might otherwise occur.

The invention claimed is:

1. A filing device, comprising a tray. end members hingedly mounted on said tray for movement into vertical and inclined positions, and covers hinged on said tray for movement into closed position covering the contents of said tray, movable into open position beyond said end members and operable in the open position to support said end members in inclined position.

2. A filing device, comprising a tray, an end Search H member hingedly mounted on said tray for movement between upright and tilted positions, and a: cover hingedly mounted on said tray for cover-.-

ing a portion of the contents and partially closing the tray in one position, said cover being movable to another position beyond said end member to uncover the tray and receive and support said end wall in inclined position.

3. A filing device, comprising a tray having a bottom and side walls, end walls hinged on the ends of said bottom wall and movable into upright and inclined positions, covers pivoted at opposite ends on said side walls movable into an open position beyond the ends of said tray for supporting said end walls in inclined position, said covers being movable into cooperating position over said tray for covering said tray to prevent access to the contents.

4. A iiling device, comprising a tray, and walls hinged on said tray for movement between inclined and upright positions, covers pivoted on said tray movable beyond the ends of said tray in open position and supporting said end walls in inclined position, said covers being movable to closed position for cooperation to cover the contents of said tray, and cooperating means on the covers and end members for securing said end members in upright position when said covers are in closed position. l

5. A Illing device, comprising a tray, end walls hinged on said tray for movement between upright and inclined positions, covers pivoted on said tray for movement from closed position covering said tray to open position beyond the ends of said tray, and means operating said end members between upright and tilted positions by the movement of the covers from closed to open position.

6. A illing device, comprising a tray, end walls hinged on said tray for movement between upright and inclined positions, covers pivoted on said tray for movement to and from closed position covering said tray, said end walls cooperating with said covers to completely close said tray to prevent access to its contents, and means on said covers for moving said end walls to upright and inclined positions during pivotal movement o1" said covers.

7. A filing device, comprising a tray, end walls hinged on said tray for movement between upright and inclined positions, covers pivoted on said tray for movement from closed covering position over said tray to open positions beyond the ends of said tray, means on the covers for moving said end walls between inclined and upright positions during movement thereof, means on the covers for engaging said end walls and holding them in upright position when the covers are closed for cooperation to prevent access to the contents of said tray, said covers in open position supporting said end walls in inclined position.

8. A Illing device, comprising a tray, end walls hinged on said tray movable between upright and inclined positions, and covers pivoted von said tray engaging and cooperating in closed and open positions to support said end walls in both upright and inclined positions.

9. A ling device, comprising a tray, end Walls hinged on said tray movable between upright and inclined positions, a cover pivoted on each of the two ends of the tray movable together over the tray into closed position and movable apart to open position at the ends of the tray, cam members on the covers and cam engaging elements on said endk walls operable by saidcam members and inclined positions, covers pivoted on said trayengaging and holding said end walls in upright position when said covers are engaged over said tray to close the tray, means on the tray for limiting closing movement of covers relative thereto, said covers being movable into open position beyond the ends of said tray and said end walls for supporting said end walls in inclined position.

12. A filing device, comprising a tray, end walls hinged on said tray movable between upright and inclined positions, said tray having side walls, ledges provided on said side walls, covers pivoted on said side walls supported in closed position in end to end relation on said ledges, said covers being movable to open position beyond the ends of said tray and supporting said end walls in inclined position.

13. A filing device, comprising a tray, end walls.

hinged on said tray movable between upright and inclined positions. said tray having side walls, a. pair of covers formed to provide top and side sections, said side sections being pivotally connected to said side walls for mounting said covers to move in opposite directions in'opening and closing movements and to engage said covers in end to end relation in closed position, and endsi;

wall sections on said covers engaging said end walls in the closed position of the covers for retaining said end walls in upright position.

14. A filing device, comprising a tray, having side walls, end walls hinged on said tray movable between upright and inclined positions, a pair of oppositely formed covers having top and side 10 sections pivoted on said side walls, said covers engaging in end to end coincident relation in closedv position to cover the contents of said tray, and means connecting said covers and end walls for moving said end walls into inclined position as 15 the covers move away from each other into open position beyond the ends of the tray to support said end walls.

15. A filing device, comprising a tray, having side walls, end walls hinged on said tray movable go into upright and inclined positions, a pair of oppositely formed covers having top. and side sections pivoted on said side walls,v said covers en gaging in end to end coincident relation in closed position to cover said tray, end sections on said 25 covers engaging and retaining said end walls in upright position when said covers are in closed position, ledges on said side walls to support said covers in closed position, said covers moving to an open position beyond the ends of said tray for 30 supporting said end walls in inclined position, and means operable in the movement of said covers for moving said end walls to said inclined and upright positions.

HANS scrum). a, 

